Udupi: Joyous atmosphere and devotion marks Monthi Festh celebration

By Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’belle, 08 Sep 2015: Joyous atmosphere and devotion marked the celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of Virgin Mary (Monthi Festh) in St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle on Tuesday, 8 September 2015 at 8 am. Children in the best of dresses carrying plates filled with varieties of beautiful  flowers assembled in front of the Grotto. The members of the Parish Pastoral Council lined up in front of the Grotto with the bundles of new paddy to be blessed. Parishioners gathered around the Grotto in a semicircular formation.

 

The altar servers accompanied by Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Charles Menezes, International Director of Youth and Rev. Fr. Victor Fernandes, Assistant Parish Priest arrived to the Grotto in procession. After a brief prayer service, Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas blessed the new paddy, sprinkled holy water and incensed.

 

Children converged into the inner circle of the Grotto to offer flowers to Mother Mary. As the choir sang the hymn “Moriyek Hogolshiyam...”, children tossed the flowers towards the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. 

 

After the completion of the blessing of the new paddy and offering flowers at the Grotto, Altar servers followed by children, parishioners, members of the Parish Pastoral Council carrying the newly blessed paddy and the priests proceeded to the church in procession.

 

The feast mass was concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Charles Menezes as the chief celebrant along eith Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas and Rev. Fr. Victor Fernandes.

 

 

 

In his homily, Rev. Fr. Charles Menezes highlighted the importance and significance of the Monthi Festh which is also considered as the family feast and the occasion to honour the girl child and pay respect to women in general.

 

At the end of the Mass, Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas extended the greetings of the Monthi Festh to all parishioners and requested them to communicate his greetings to their near and dear ones residing in different cities of India and abroad. He also thanked all those who cooperated and rendered their service   in the celebration of the feast in a grand way.

 

As in previous years, sugar cane sponsored by Gerald Fernandes and family was distributed to all children and even to the adults. Children and adults collected sugar cane in a systematic and disciplined manner. ICYM members helped in maintaining the queue and distributing sugar canes.